Earlier this week, SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting testified before the US House Science, Space, and Technology Oversight Subcommittee, urging the group to continue allowing street vehicles to be modified and converted for motorsports competition.

Kersting joined President of National Speed Sports News Ralph Sheheen, lawmakers and legislative experts at the hearing, which examined how the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule on converting emissions-certified vehicles into race cars would impact the racing community.

“The EPA’s new interpretation of the law puts racing and the motorsports industry into jeopardy,” said Kersting. “SEMA is urging Congress to adopt a measure that would eliminate any uncertainty now and in the future about how the Clean Air Act is interpreted, and make it clear that the law allows emissions-certified street vehicles to be modified and converted for competition use.”

(Click the image below for Kersting's full testimony)

The bipartisan “Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016” (RPM Act) clarifies the Clean Air Act to explain that it has always been legal to modify a street vehicle into a race car used exclusively at the track. The bill also confirms that modifying these vehicles for exclusive track use would not be considered tampering. The bill was introduced in the House (H.R. 4715) and in the Senate (S.2659) last week.